Combined dishwasher and garbage grinder arrangement

ABSTRACT

The arrangement provides a dishwasher vat of a height approximating that height of the base cabinets of a kitchen, with the pump for the dishwasher being located to the side of the vat and being driven by a motor which also drives a garbage grinder mechanism, and in which coupling means is provided so that when the motor is driven in one direction it drives only the garbage grinder, while when driven in the other direction it drives only the dishwasher pump.

United States Patent McCoy 51 Aug. 1,1972

[54] COMBINED DISHWASHER AND GARBAGE GRINDER ARRANGEMENT [72] Inventor: Robert A. McCoy, Turtle Creek, Pa.

[73] Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corporation,

Pittsburgh, Pa.

[22] Filed: Feb. 8, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 113,234

[52] US. Cl ..241/46 B, 241/101 R, 134/115 G [51] Int. Cl ..B02c 18/42 [58] Field of Search ..241/46, 46 B, 46.62, 46.11,

241/46.17,100.S,101R, 257 G; 134/115 G [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,802,477 8/1957 Levit ..24l/257GX 3,288,154 11/1966 Jacobs ..-.....134/l15GX Primary Examiner-Granville Y. Custer, Jr. Attorney-F. H. Henson and E. C. Arenz [5 7] ABSTRACT The arrangement provides a dishwasher vat of a height approximating that height of the base cabinets of a kitchen, with the pump for the dishwasher being located to the side of the vat and being driven by a motor which also drives a garbage grinder mechanism, and in which coupling means is provided so that when the motor is driven in one direction it drives only the garbage grinder, while when driven in the other direction it drives only the dishwasher pump.

5 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures COMBINED DISHWASHER AND GARBAGE GRHIDER ARRANGEMENT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The invention pertains to the art of combination dishwasher and garbage grinder arrangements.

2. Description of the Prior Art It has been suggested numerous times in the patent art to combine a dishwasher and garbage grinder in a fashion that a single motor may be used to drive both devices, and in some cases to locate the motor to the side of the dishwasher vat. Exemplary patents disclosing arrangements which touch one aspect or another of the invention with which this application is concerned are as follows: US. Pat. Nos. 3,514,330; 3,358,702; 3,356,097; 3,288,154; 3,059,653; 2,802,477; 2,729,219; 2,669,240 and Norwegian Patent No. 82,048 issued July 13, 1953. However, the arrangements taught in these patents are not considered to provide all of the advantages attainable from an arrangement according to this invention.

' SUMMARY OFTHEINVEN'IION In accordance with the invention, the dishwasher vat can be made with a height which approaches the height of base cabinets of a kitchen, so that a larger washing compartment is provided for a given width, the pump for the dishwasher is located to the side of the vat along with a garbage grinder mechanism and a reversible motor having opposite shafts interposed between the pump garbage grinder, and first means, is provided for coupling one of the shafts to the garbage grinder mechanism when the motor is operated in one direction and for releasing the coupling means when the motor is operated in the other direction, and second means is provided for coupling the other of the shafts to the pump when the motor is operated in the other direction and for releasing the second coupling means when the motor is operated in the first direction. In other words, either the garbage grinder mechanism or the dishwasher pump may be operated by the motor, but not both at the same time.

The arrangement according to the invention also provides advantages in that the motor and pump for the dishwasher are typically more easily accessible for maintenance and replacement, and since the motor and pump are not rigidly coupled to the dishwasher vat, the vat may be substantially isolated from these parts from the standpoint of vibrations and noise emanating therefrom.

DRAWING DESCRIPTION FIG. 1 is a partly broken and partly diagrammatic isometric view of an installation according to the invention; and

FIG. 2 is a partly broken isometric view of the pump, garbage grinder mechanism, and motor assembly in accordance with the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1, a major component of the invention is the dishwasher generally designated situated in a base cabinet assembly 12 over which the kitchen counter top 14 overlies and in a location preferably immediately adjacent a sink cabinet 16. In the sink cabinet space below the sink 18, a stacked assembly in alignment with the sink opening is provided. A garbage grinder mechanism 20 comprises the top part of the stacked assembly and is attached to the sink drain opening in any conventional fashion. The lowennost part of the assembly comprises a pump 22 which functions generally in the same manner as the usual pumps used with dishwashers. An electrical motor 24 of reversible character and having oppositely directed shafts 26 and 28 is interposed between the garbage grinder mechanism and the dishwasher pump. These shafts are subject to being selectively coupled to the driven shaft 30 of the garbage grinder mechanism, and the driven shaft 32 of the pump. The currently preferred arrangement for eflecting the selective coupling will be described in some detail hereinafter.

The dishwasher 10 may be of conventional structure in some respects, but may be rather unconventional in other respects due to the arrangement according to the invention. Since the conventional motor and pump for operating the dishwasher is not located below the vat 34, a substantially greater height of the vat is permitted. Accordingly, the larger washing compartment can, if desired, accommodate three dishwashing racks 36 at successive levels. While this may require two rotating spray arms 38 for the two lower racks, and a further water distributor 40 for providing water to the upper rack, all of which may be fed by a single standpipe 42, such multiple spray arms and a water distributor arrangement are known in the dishwasher art. It will be appreciated that the general arrangement of the interior of the vat described is simply for purposes of example, and other arrangements may also be provided to utilize the full height of the vat.

Referring to FIG. 2 now along with FIG. 1, a flexible hose 44 is connected from the drain (not shown) of the dishwasher vat to the inlet fitting 46 of the pump 22. Another rubber hose 48 is connected between a threeway junction 50 at the outlet of the pump, and the standpipe 42 of the dishwasher. The three-way junction 50 also includes a solenoid operated valve also designated 50 which may be operated to direct the discharge from the pump through flexible hose 52 to the grinding chamber of the garbage grinder mechanism 20. Pipe 54 carries the comminuted waste from the garbage grinder to the main waste piping of the house in which the arrangement is located. The water supply connection from the house water supply to the dishwasher is not shown since this may be conventional, such as providing a time fill directly into the vat in accordance with the timer operation of the dishwasher.

The currently preferred way for coupling the output shaft 26 of the motor to the driven shaft 30 of the garbage grinder mechanism (FIG. 2), and the output shaft 28 of the motor to the driven shaft 32 of the pump, is to use a helical coil spring 56 between the one set of shafts, and another, oppositely directed helical coil spring 58 between the other set of shafts. Such helical coil springs which are of steel preferably and have a rectangular cross section have conventionally been used in appliances such as laundry machines to obtain a clutching action. The height of the spring is sufficient to bridge the gap between the shafts, and to encircle a sufi'rcient length of each of the shafts that with one end of the spring fixed to one of the shafts, and the motor 24 turning in a direction to tighten the spring, a driving connection between the shafts will be made. When the motor shaft is driven in the opposite direction, the spring tends to open so that driving engagement is lost. Since such clutching springs are well known in the appliance art and it is only necessary that springs having proper characteristics are selected for the type of service desired, further description of the helical springs is not considered necessary. However, it is emphasized that when the motor 24 as viewed from the top is rotated in a clockwise direction, the helical spring 56 will cause engagement between the motor and garbage grinder mechanism so that the garbage grinder mechanism will rotate in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 2. Alternatively, if the motor 24 is operated in a counterclockwise direction, the pump 22 will be driven in a counterclockwise direction as indicated by the arrow through the coupling afforded by the spring 58. In either case, if engagement and coupling is provided by one of the helical springs, the other will be uncoupled or disengaged with respect to driving its particular driven device. It will also be appreciated that other clutching mechanisms, known in the art, such as mechanical or electrically actuated ones, may be used instead of the helical springs illustrated.

While a pair of standards 60 (FIG. 2) are shown as rigidly connecting the garbage grinder mechanism 20,

v the motor 24, and the pump 22 in the stacked assembly; it will be appreciated that the garbage grinder mechanism may be suspended and supported from the sink itself, with the only coupling between the motor 24 and the mechanism 20 being the coupling 56. In that case the portions 60a of the standards would be omitted.

One advantage contemplated by an arrangement according to the invention is a reduced noise transmission attainable from the arrangement. In conventional dishwashers in which the pump and motor are rigidly mounted to the dishwashing vat, it is believed that a substantial amount of noise from this arrangement is caused by the dishwasher vat as a whole serving as somewhat of an amplifier to motor and pump noise. In the arrangement shown, in which the pump and motor are isolated from the vat, and in which the pump may be supported from the floor 62 underlying the sink with vibration isolators 64 being provided, and the connections to the dishwasher vat being through the flexible hoses 44 and 48, transmission of motor and pump vibration to the dishwasher vat is avoided.

For operating the arrangement, a double-throw main switch 66 (FIG. 1) is provided on the countertop or on the splash panel. This switch is provided with a neutral off position in which the motor 24 is not energized. If the switch is thrown in one direction the motor is energized for operation in one direction, and if the switch is thrown in the opposite direction, the motor is energized for operation in the opposite direction. The switch in the one position for operating a dishwasher may be simply in series in a line to the conventional controls for the dishwasher. Thus, even though the switch is thrown to the dishwasher position, the dishwasher would not run unless the usual timer control were set to start. When the switch is thrown to operate the garbage grinder, the dishwasher cannot be energized. It will also be appreciated that since the garbage grinder mechanism is disengaged when the dishwasher is running, if a jam occurs in the garbage grinder, this does not prevent operation of the dishwasher.

It is recognized that with the arrangement taught that reversability of the garbage grinder, which is a common arrangement, is not possible. However if the garbage grinder mechanism jams it can be easily operated in a reverse direction manually by providing flat portions 68 on the shaft 30 to accommodate a wrench for manually turning the garbage grinder in its reverse direction, or by providing a slot through the shaft to permit the insertion of a rod to obtain a lever arm.

I claim as my invention:

1. A combination dishwasher and garbage grinder comprising:

a dishwasher vat of a height occupying substantially the height of a base cabinet of a kitchen;

a pump for said dishwasher located to the side of said vat;

a garbage grinder mechanism located to the side of said vat;

a reversible motor having opposite shafts for driving said pump and said garbage grinder mechanism, said motor being located between said garbage grinder mechanism and said pump;

first means coupling one of said shafts to said garbage grinder mechanism to drive said garbage grinder mechanism when said motor operates in one direction and releasing the coupling when said motor operates in the other direction; and

second means coupling the other of said shafts to said pump to drive said pump when said motor operates in said other direction and releasing the coupling when said motor operates in said one direction.

2. The combination of claim 1 including:

a pair of fluid connecting lines between said dishwasher and said pump;

a drain fluid line extending from said pump to said garbage grinder mechanism; and

said connecting lines are of non-rigid character to prevent the transmission of vibrations therethrough.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein:

said pump is mounted upon the floor underlying a sink.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein:

said first coupling means and said second coupling means comprise helical coil spring members disposed in mirror image relationship to each other on said opposite shafts of said motor.

5. A dishwasher, garbage grinder and sink combination comprising:

a dishwasher vat located in a kitchen base cabinet at the side of a sink cabinet, said vat being of a height to occupy substantially the height of said base cabinet;

a pump for said dishwasher located in said sink cabinet in the lower portion thereof;

a garbage grinder mechanism located in said sink cabinet and attached to the drain of said sink;

ment when said motor operates in the other direction;

second means coupling the downwardly extending shaft of said motor to an upwardly extending shaft from said pump to effect driving engagement of said shafts when said motor operates in the other direction and for releasing said engagement when said motor operates in said one direction. 

1. A combination dishwasher and garbage grinder comprising: a dishwasher vat of a height occupying substantially the height of a base cabinet of a kitchen; a pump for said dishwasher located to the side of said vat; a garbage grinder mechanism located to the side of said vat; a reversible motor having opposite shafts for driving said pump and said garbage grinder mechanism, said motor being located between said garbage grinder mechanism and said pump; first means coupling one of said shafts to said garbage grinder Mechanism to drive said garbage grinder mechanism when said motor operates in one direction and releasing the coupling when said motor operates in the other direction; and second means coupling the other of said shafts to said pump to drive said pump when said motor operates in said other direction and releasing the coupling when said motor operates in said one direction.
 2. The combination of claim 1 including: a pair of fluid connecting lines between said dishwasher and said pump; a drain fluid line extending from said pump to said garbage grinder mechanism; and said connecting lines are of non-rigid character to prevent the transmission of vibrations therethrough.
 3. The combination of claim 1 wherein: said pump is mounted upon the floor underlying a sink.
 4. The combination of claim 1 wherein: said first coupling means and said second coupling means comprise helical coil spring members disposed in mirror image relationship to each other on said opposite shafts of said motor.
 5. A dishwasher, garbage grinder and sink combination comprising: a dishwasher vat located in a kitchen base cabinet at the side of a sink cabinet, said vat being of a height to occupy substantially the height of said base cabinet; a pump for said dishwasher located in said sink cabinet in the lower portion thereof; a garbage grinder mechanism located in said sink cabinet and attached to the drain of said sink; a reversible motor having opposed shafts for driving said pump and said garbage grinder, said motor being located between said garbage grinder mechanism and said pump, and being structurally supported from said pump; and first means coupling the upwardly projecting shaft of said motor to a downwardly projecting shaft from said garbage grinder mechanism to effect driving engagement of said shaft when said motor operates in one direction and releasing said driving engagement when said motor operates in the other direction; second means coupling the downwardly extending shaft of said motor to an upwardly extending shaft from said pump to effect driving engagement of said shafts when said motor operates in the other direction and for releasing said engagement when said motor operates in said one direction. 